Golden Eagle Football Countdown: York Trophy race starts at UT Martin

Jul 29, 2011

Are you ready for Golden Eagle football? With fall camp just
around the corner, we're counting down the days to the start of
The Fastest 60 Minutes in Football. Do
you have your season tickets yet? If not, what are you waiting for?
Please call (931) 372-3940 to order your tickets.

With 35 days to go until the pigskin (officially) flies through
the air for the first time, we'll be previewing all 10 TTU
opponents here on TTUsports.com.

Countdown to camp: 10 daysCountdown to season opener: 35 daysCountdown to home opener: 40 days

Tennessee Tech’s quest to reclaim the Sgt. York Trophy
officially begins on Saturday, Oct. 1, as the Golden Eagles head to
Martin, Tenn., to battle the reigning trophy holders, the UT Martin
Skyhawks.

One year prior the roles were reversed, as the Skyhawks began
their journey to claiming their first Sgt. York Trophy traveling to
Tucker Stadium to take on the reigning Tennessee Tech Golden
Eagles. The Golden Eagles took an 11-point lead into the halftime,
but a pair of UTM touchdowns in the third quarter spawned a Skyhawk
comeback as the visitors took the game, 27-24.

The Skyhawks went on to four more victories and a 6-5 record,
which included a pair of convincing victories against Austin Peay
(28-12) and Tennessee State (37-0), to lock up its first Sgt. York
Trophy.

Predicted to finish sixth in the OVC Preseason Poll, just nine
points behind TTU, the Skyhawks welcome back a pair of preseason
all-OVC selections in Kenny Jones and Kendall Harper.

Last season, Jones played in 10 games as a tight end and tallied
248 receiving yards, averaging 15.5 yards a catch. Harper, a
defensive end, made three interceptions last season, while making
42 tackles.

Tech leads the all-time series with a mark of 18-10-2. In their
last five matchups, the teams have alternated road victories,
including UTM’s recent 27-24 victory last season, and
TTU’s 35-28 win in 2009.